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Saturday, December 20th, 2025
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Daniel 4:20

The tree, so tall that it reached the sky, could be seen by everyone in the world.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Babylon;   Converts;   Testimony;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Dreams;   Interpretation of Dreams;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Babylon;   Trees;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Babylon;   Dream;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Allegory;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Divination;   Oak;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Azariah;   Daniel, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Baltasar;   Medicine;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Dew;   God;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Daniel;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Dan'iel;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Leaf;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Apocalypse;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for January 23;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky and was visible to the whole earth,
Hebrew Names Version
The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and the sight of it to all the eretz;
King James Version
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
English Standard Version
The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,
New American Standard Bible
'The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth,
New Century Version
You saw a tree in your dream that grew large and strong. Its top touched the sky, and it could be seen from all over the earth.
Amplified Bible
'The tree that you saw, which became great and grew strong, whose height reached to heaven and which was visible to all the earth,
Geneva Bible (1587)
The tree that thou sawest, which was great and mightie, whose height reached vnto the heauen, and the sight thereof through all the world,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth
Berean Standard Bible
The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
Contemporary English Version
You saw a tree that grew so big and strong that it reached up to heaven and could be seen from anywhere on earth.
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘Now the king saw a holy watcher coming down from heaven, who said, "‘"Cut down the tree, and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the lush grass of the countryside; let him be drenched with dew from the sky and share the lot of the wild animals until seven seasons pass over him."
Darby Translation
The tree that thou sawest, which grew and was strong, whose height reached unto the heavens, and the sight of it to all the earth;
Easy-to-Read Version
You saw a tree in your dream. The tree grew large and strong. Its top touched the sky, and it could be seen from all over the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, and it had plenty of fruit. The fruit gave plenty of food for everyone. It was a home for the wild animals, and its branches were nesting places for the birds. You saw that tree.
George Lamsa Translation
The tree which you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven and the view thereof, to all the earth;
Lexham English Bible
The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong and its height reached to heaven and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,
Literal Translation
The tree that you saw, which became great and strong, whose height reached to the heaven and its appearance to all the earth,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As for the tre that thou sawest which was so greate & mightie, whose heyth reached vnto the heauen, and his bredth in to all the worlde:
American Standard Version
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
Bible in Basic English
The tree which you saw, which became tall and strong, stretching up to heaven and seen from the ends of the earth;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying: Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even in a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him--
King James Version (1611)
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached vnto the heauen, and the sight thereof to all the earth:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
As for the tree that thou sawest, which was great and mightie, whose heyght reached vnto the heauen, and the sight therof through all the world,
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and he said, Strip the tree, and destroy it; only leave the stump of its roots in the ground, and bind it with a band of iron and brass; and it shall lie in the grass that is without, and in the dew of heaven, and its portion shall be with wild beasts, until seven times have passed over it;
English Revised Version
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
World English Bible
The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and the sight of it to all the earth;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The tree which thou siyest hiy and strong, whos heiythe stretchith `til to heuene, and the biholdyng therof in to ech lond,
Update Bible Version
The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
Webster's Bible Translation
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose hight reached to the heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth;
New English Translation
The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which could be seen in all the land,
New King James Version
"The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,
New Living Translation
The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.
New Life Bible
You saw the tree which grew large and strong, whose top went up to the sky and could be seen over all the earth.
New Revised Standard
The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, so that its top reached to heaven and was visible to the end of the whole earth,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The tree which thou sawest, which grew and became strong, whose, height, reached unto the heavens, and, the view, thereof to all the earth:
Douay-Rheims Bible
20 [17] [fn] The tree which thou sawest which was high and strong, whose height reached to the skies, and the sight thereof into all tire earth:
Revised Standard Version
The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth;
Young's Literal Translation
The tree that thou hast seen, that hath become great and strong, and its height doth reach to the heavens, and its vision to all the land,
THE MESSAGE
"The tree you saw that grew so large and sturdy with its top touching the sky, visible from the four corners of the world; the tree with the luxuriant foliage and abundant fruit, enough for everyone; the tree under which animals took cover and in which birds built nests—you, O king, are that tree. "You have grown great and strong. Your royal majesty reaches sky-high, and your sovereign rule stretches to the four corners of the world.

Contextual Overview

19 At this, Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, was so alarmed that he could not say anything. The king said to him, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream and its message alarm you." Belteshazzar replied, "Your Majesty, I wish that the dream and its explanation applied to your enemies and not to you. 20 The tree, so tall that it reached the sky, could be seen by everyone in the world. 21 Its leaves were beautiful, and it had enough fruit on it to feed the whole world. Wild animals rested under it, and birds made their nests in its branches. 22 "Your Majesty, you are the tree, tall and strong. You have grown so great that you reach the sky, and your power extends over the whole world. 23 While Your Majesty was watching, an angel came down from heaven and said, ‘Cut the tree down and destroy it, but leave the stump in the ground. Wrap a band of iron and bronze around it, and leave it there in the field with the grass. Let the dew fall on this man, and let him live there with the animals for seven years.' 24 "This, then, is what it means, Your Majesty, and this is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you. 25 You will be driven away from human society and will live with wild animals. For seven years you will eat grass like an ox and sleep in the open air, where the dew will fall on you. Then you will admit that the Supreme God controls all human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses. 26 The angel ordered the stump to be left in the ground. This means that you will become king again when you acknowledge that God rules all the world. 27 So then, Your Majesty, follow my advice. Stop sinning, do what is right, and be merciful to the poor. Then you will continue to be prosperous."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Daniel 4:10-12, Ezekiel 31:3, Ezekiel 31:16

Reciprocal: Psalms 37:35 - a green bay tree Proverbs 17:19 - he that Isaiah 37:24 - General Jeremiah 51:9 - her judgment Ezekiel 19:11 - her stature Mark 4:32 - shooteth

Cross-References

Genesis 4:2
Later she gave birth to another son, Abel. Abel became a shepherd, but Cain was a farmer.
Genesis 4:4
Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,
Genesis 4:5
but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger.
Genesis 4:9
The Lord asked Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He answered, "I don't know. Am I supposed to take care of my brother?"
Genesis 4:10
Then the Lord said, "Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge.
Genesis 4:11
You are placed under a curse and can no longer farm the soil. It has soaked up your brother's blood as if it had opened its mouth to receive it when you killed him.
Genesis 4:12
If you try to grow crops, the soil will not produce anything; you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth."
Genesis 4:21
His brother was Jubal, the ancestor of all musicians who play the harp and the flute.
Genesis 25:27
The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoors, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.
John 8:44
You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father's desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The tree which thou sawest, e.] In these two verses is related part of the dream, which respects the flourishing estate of Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom :-,

:-,

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The tree that thou sawest ... - In these two verses Daniel refers to the leading circumstances respecting the tree as it appeared in the dream, without any allusion as yet to the order to cut it down. He probably designed to show that he had clearly understood what had been said, or that he had attended to the most minute circumstances as narrated. It was important to do this in order to show clearly that it referred to the king; a fact which probably Nebuchadnezzar himself apprehended, but still it was important that this should be so firmly fixed in his mind that he would not revolt from it when Daniel came to disclose the fearful import of the remainder of the dream.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. The tree that thou sawest — The dream is so fully interpreted in the following verses that it needs no comment.


 
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